NYC Suspect Charged With Hate-Crime Attempted Murder In Upper West Side Stabbings
Raul Morales was charged Friday with attempted murder and hate-crime counts after two separate stabbings on Manhattan's Upper West Side on Thursday, July 23, 2026, police said.[1]
NYPD said Morales faces attempted murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon in the attack on a 57-year-old Asian man.[1] In the attack on a 50-year-old Jewish man, he is charged with attempted murder as a hate crime, assault as a hate crime, assault and criminal possession of a weapon, police said.[1] Both victims remained hospitalized in stable condition, the NYPD said.[1]
The stabbings happened near each other on Thursday, July 23, and police said they appeared to be separate attacks with no known connection between Morales and either victim or between the victims themselves.[2] Police said Morales allegedly yelled "Allahu Akbar" during both attacks and that initial findings suggest mental health may have been a factor, though they had no prior mental-health record for him.[1] During a Friday perp walk, Morales shouted "Justice for the Romero family" and referenced an unidentified woman, saying reporters would "remember her name forever," authorities said.[1]
Show source details & analysis (2 sources)
📌 Key Facts
- Police said the two stabbings on Manhattan's Upper West Side were separate attacks that occurred on Thursday, July 23, 2026, with no known connection between suspect Raul Morales and either victim or between the victims themselves.
- NYPD confirmed the specific charges: in the attack on the 57-year-old Asian man Morales faces attempted murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon; in the attack on the 50-year-old Jewish man he is charged with attempted murder as a hate crime, assault as a hate crime, assault and criminal possession of a weapon.
- During a perp walk on Friday, July 24, 2026, Morales shouted "Justice for the Romero family" and referenced an unidentified woman, saying reporters would "remember her name forever," according to the reporting by Fox News.
- Police reiterated that Morales allegedly yelled "Allahu Akbar" during both attacks and said initial findings suggest mental health may have been a factor, though the NYPD has no prior mental health history on record for him.
- Both victims remained hospitalized in stable condition as of Friday, July 24, 2026, according to the NYPD.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- On Thursday, July 23, 2026, police said the two stabbings on Manhattan's Upper West Side appeared to be separate attacks that happened near each other, with no known connection between suspect Raul Morales and either victim or between the victims themselves.
- NYPD confirmed specific charge groupings: in the attack on the 57-year-old Asian man, Morales faces attempted murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon; in the attack on the 50-year-old Jewish man, he is charged with attempted murder as a hate crime, assault as a hate crime, assault and criminal possession of a weapon.
- During a perp walk on Friday, July 24, 2026, Morales shouted "Justice for the Romero family" and referenced an unidentified woman, saying reporters would "remember her name forever."
- Police reiterated that Morales allegedly yelled "Allahu Akbar" during both attacks and said initial findings suggest mental health may have been a factor, though NYPD has no prior mental health history on record for him.
- Both victims remained hospitalized in stable condition as of Friday, July 24, 2026, according to the NYPD.